#comicreview — Public Fediverse posts

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #12 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

Looking back at the X-Men 2099 series of the 1990s, so much has developed during the first eleven issues released from 1993 to 1994. When I first read issue #1 in 1993, I found the futuristic X-Men really intriguing to follow and there was the expectation that the team led by Xi’an would somehow grow and make breakthroughs happen in 2099’s America. Surprisingly, members of the team got separated from each other – such as losing Metalhead to the Freakshow – and Xi’an himself changed for the worse and eventually left the team. Tim Fitzgerald/Skullfire (the weak and unsure newcomer who joined the futuristic X-Men) himself changed radically becoming unhinged and he has gotten really close with Luna (the one who messed with his mind and triggered his emotions).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #12, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins in the black market mall with Luna struggling to separate Skullfire and Junkpile from each other. Skullfire hates Junkpile whom he holds responsible for killing his friend Serpentina (the one X-Men member who welcomed him at their sanctuary). Junkpile blames Skullfire and his teammates for causing him some serious grief in Las Vegas. Luna tells them both to shut up or she would do something on both of them.

Moments later, the three of them are accused by the mall security for violating the market regulations. An armed mall security officer points his weapon at them accusing them of willful destruction of market property. The looks of Junkpile, Luna and Skullfire, however, scared him and convinced him to move away. Luna then reveals to Skullfire that she encountered Junkpile outside of Las Vegas shortly after the violent encounter with the X-Men. The three of them proceeded to a café to have a civil talk. Skullfire asks Luna about the Theater of Pain…

Quality

Wow! The Moore-Lim team loaded this comic book with immense details that established the true force of opposition that awaits the X-Men. The story reveals to readers the Theater of Pain, its demonic leader Brimstone Love and what the theater’s purpose truly is. Brimstone Love and the theater were first revealed at the very end of issue #3 and this comic book offers readers a close look at them complete with very intriguing details that turned out to be worth discovering. That said, it was clear that John Francis Moore designed the Theater of Pain to be not just a planned force of evil the X-Men must face but also an actual threat to many living in 2099’s America. The Theater of Pain has a very sinister agenda and its operations involves the accumulating human misery which is a frightening concept on its own.

While Luna’s history and connection with the Theater of Pain is emphasized, Xi’an’s search for the Driver makes a lot more sense here as the former X-Men leader (now sinister and spiritually lost) communicates again with someone from his past. That said, the plot really thickened a lot in this comic book and that alone makes it engaging to follow.

As this issue follows Skullfire, Luna, Junkpile and Xi’an – plus a quick look at former X-Men member Metalhead now spending time with the Freakshow – the tone of the tale turned dark and gritty which I think was intentionally done by the creators as the Theater of Pain was strongly emphasized. That said, this is indeed inspired work.

Conclusion

With a dark tale and an established force of evil rising in the horizon, X-Men 2099 #12 (1994) can be described as an inspired turn of events for the monthly series as a whole. At this stage, the direction of the series really started to take shape. It is also a lively reminder that the mutants struggling in 2099 have the wilderness and its violent elements as the least of their worries. The Theater of Pain itself is a reminder about sinister yet unseen forces that are operating while lots of people remain unaware of them (note: think about the World Economic Forum and what its core organization really do behind closed doors as time passes). Lastly, the twisted developments of Skullfire and Xi’an’s respective personalities will keep you in suspense as to how the futuristic X-Men can survive without them.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #12 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #8 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

After the first seven issues of the series, it is clear that the futuristic mutants under Xi’an have tough challenges to not only survive in the dangerous and unpredictable wasteland of 2099’s America but also help their leader fulfill the ultimate goal of protecting mutants from the evil corporations in accordance to the dream of Professor X (Charles Xavier). Unlike the X-Men of the 20th century, the team of 2099 does not have vast resources nor do they have a permanent place for living and development. Xi’an himself is still struggling with the elements from his past as a violent criminal.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #8, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins with Krystalin examining Archangel with amazement. Moments later, she sees Cyclops, Iceman, Beast and Jean Grey (in her Phoenix form). She wondered how many times did each of Professor X’s first students appear to die only to return again and again. She recalls that the records of their deaths may have been in error or even falsified. She also remembers the succeeding X-Men teams of Del Ruiz and Zhao.

It turns out the original X-Men members she saw were holograms as Victor Ten Eagles (who was a fellow outlaw with Xi’an in the old days) reveals that he opened his studio to few people and never to strangers. He allowed Krystalin in because he owes Xi’an a blood debt from their time together with the Lawless. As they talk, he explains to her his personal interest in the X-Men and the legacy.

Over at Iron Horse in Arizona, Hurricane talks with two trackers who were tied up. Meanstreak uses his super speed to dismantle the trackers’ suits of armor and examine the technologies within. He finds one Tetsuo Mark 6 signal beacon that was used to monitor armor in the field. He tells Hurricane she can use it as an advance warning the next time trackers are sent after her.

Hurricane tells the X-Men that she and the Freakshow never stay too long in one place. Moments later, the infected Metalhead tells Skullfire that he is trapped in his current metal form and could not change back…

Quality

To make things clear, this X-Men 2099 comic book is very engaging to read as it is filled with a lot of details that further expanded the lore of the 2099 universe concerning mutants and legacy of the X-Men in the 21st century. As such, I really enjoyed learning about the “future history” of the X-Men, how mutants struggled to survive in a corporation-controlled America, and why the wasteland became the 21st century’s very own Old West where danger and uncertainty are constant.

If have an obsession about the 2099 universe, there is a lot to discover and enjoy here. Xi’an’s pursuit for knowledge about the mutant underground and Hurricane’s involvement is compelling to read and what was revealed is worth discovering. Meanwhile, Krystalin and Ten Eagles’ exploration of facilities as they search for answers reminds me a lot about a notable part of the story in Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

Conclusion

X-Men 2099 #8 (1994) is a compelling read and it is one of the stronger references about the 2099 universe and the legacy of the X-Men from the time of Xavier to that of Zhao. The details revealed here are fine pay-offs to what was built up in the previous issues, and they connect well with the existence of Xi’an’s X-Men. This comic book will really help you understand the place of mutants in the 21st century and in my experience, the learning is enjoyable.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #8 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #6 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe to examine one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

In late-1993, Marvel Comics published the Fall of the Hammer crossover storyline highlighting the major figures of Marvel 2099 and the X-Men members involved were only Skullfire, Krystalin, Bloodhawk and Meanstreak. As told in Ravage 2099 #15, the said X-Men members made it to Valhalla with Ravage. After the events of Fall of the Hammer, the four X-Men members survived and eventually started traveling all the way back West in America to rejoin the rest of the team.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #6, published by Marvel Comics in 1994 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins in Arizona when two fully armed personnel wearing suits of armor search for a monster-like mutant who tries to hide. The mutant is named Dominic and he eventually got corned by the two armored figures. As he is about to get shot, one of the armored guys got pushed by force somehow. The next moment, a gang of mutants called the Freakshow appears.

In the southern part of Nevada, Skullfire, Bloodhawk, Krystalin and Meanstreak travel in an aircraft going back to Xi’an and the rest of their teammates. As Bloodhawk jumps of after saying goodbye, Skullfire jumps off as well in a suicidal manner. He eventually grabs Bloodhawk by the ankle. Back at the aircraft, Krystalin and Meanstreak shared their respective observations about Skullfire’s sudden change of personality since the psychic vampire Luna messed with him… 

Quality

The script of this comic book was finely crafted by John Francis Moore and it is amazing how efficient he got the X-Men team back (after Skullfire, Krystalin, Meanstreak returned) on track while ensuring a good amount of depth as reflected in the dynamics between the team members as the story went on. The storytelling felt natural and really believable.

Along the way, this comic book shed light on team leader Xi’an and the threads of the past that came back to haunt to him. This instantly added a new layer of development on Xi’an which established an element of uncertainty on the future of the X-Men under him (and his personal struggles). That said, Xi’an does not have the rock-solid stability of Professor X (Charles Xavier) which will remind readers how different the X-Men of 2099 are from the classic X-Men.

The X-Men are on the search for a mutant called Hurricane who has been active on resisting the corporations’ control on the nation and has long emphasized liberty and self-control on personal living. Historically, Hurricane led a part of the Underground Railroad which carried mutants to safe haven during a time of terror and fear. That said, X-Men’s search has a heavy purpose and the challenges they faced here is gripping and intriguing to follow. I should also state that Ron Lim’s delivery of dynamic action is really good to look at.

Conclusion

X-Men 2099 #6 (1994) is both a solid follow-up to the events of the Fall of the Hammer storyline and also a fine portrayal of how the team works under Xi’an’s leadership. More notably, it pushed the narrative of the series forward and gave us readers an in-depth exploration of the isolated places of America’s southwestern region in 2099 which is a sharp contrast to that era’s New York City dominated by Alchemax. More notably, this comic book implemented renewed focus on the state of mutants who have been living in fear, danger and uncertainty in America of 2099 which connects directly with the purpose of the X-Men as a team.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #6 is recommended. (1994)

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day — The Jean Grey Review https://popgeeks.com/spider-man-brand-new-day-the-jean-grey-review/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #SpiderMan #BrandNewDay #ComicReview #JeanGrey #MarvelComics

A Look Back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #109 (1985)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

The first two chapters of the murder of Jean DeWolff really impacted not only Spider-Man but also Daredevil and the city of New York. Issue #107 was the start and the search for answers started with a good amount of mystery and suspense. In issue #108, the plot thickened somewhat and Spider-Man encountered the Sin-Eater with lots of bystanders nearby. Since the start, the creators crafted a compelling tale with a heavy touch of detective storytelling.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #109, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written by the late Peter David and the late Rich Buckler.

Early story

The story begins with the news of the violent death of a reverend being reported on television. The local authorities believe that the victim’s concern for criminals – a concern shared by the late judge Horace Rosenthal – marked him as a target of the Sin-Eater. While the news broadcast goes on, Peter Parker talks to Stan Carter as Spider-Man on the phone (with a cloth on the mouthpiece to distort the sound of his natural voice). Other people who saw the news broadcast are affected in different ways and there is the feeling of dread clouding the city.

In the evening, Wilson Grant Fisk (the Kingpin) dictates into his small recorder. While dictating and recording, the Kingpin knows Spider-Man is hiding in the dark very close to him. He fires a shot at Spider-Man who easily evades it. As the webslinger starts talking to him, the Kingpin reminds him that he is trespassing…

Quality

Right from the start, this tale not only maintained the gritty detective story tone since issue #107, it continued to build-up the tension and intrigue smoothly as the story went on. At this stage of the storyline, Spider-Man and Daredevil are both doing detective work to find out who the Sin-Eater really is and why precisely has he been killing people and causing chaos in the first place.

Both superheroes encountered different people in their respective searches for answers. Because he was not successful finding details as Daredevil, he decides to do it in his civilian form as Matt Murdock. Spider-Man, who is not a professional detective at all, continues his search with his limitations and with the only ways he knows how (including the use of violence, humiliation and threats).

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that there two notable plot turning points that are really fine payoffs to the build-up that started since issue #107. What happened here was finely dramatized by the David-Buckler duo and easily justified the cover price.

Conclusion

Considering the very strong qualities of the writing and visuals combined with the two major plot developments, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #109 (1985) is easily the most compelling part of the death of Jean DeWolff storyline. I should also state that Spider-Man and Daredevil are the key detectives of the tale and the creative team succeeded again in shaping this detective story to be very grounded with reality. The superhero elements are still present but noticeably contained with the brooding detective story. As to the two plot turning points I mentioned earlier, I encourage you all to grab a copy of this comic book and find out for yourselves. I promise you, they are worth your time and attention

Overall, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #109 (1985) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Web of Spider-Man #112 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through the Web of Spider-Man monthly series.

In this review, we will be looking at the 3rd chapter of the Pursuit storyline. Spider-Man #45 showed a broken-hearted Spider-Man who starts his quest for vengeance against the Chameleon whom he holds responsible for the deception that happened in Amazing Spider-Man #388. As the webslinger continued his search for answers while hurting a lot of thugs, the Chameleon deceptively hires the service of a contractor to kill Spider-Man. That said, the tension really built-up a lot and we will find out what will happen next.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Web of Spider-Man #112, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story by Terry Kavanaugh and drawn by Alex Saviuk. This is the 3rd chapter of the Pursuit storyline.

Early story

The story begins deep within New York City. A bus full of prisoners and armed guards makes its way through the rough streets of the city. The guard notices that they are taking a long route and approached the bus driver – the Chameleon in disguise.

The Chameleon is aware that Spider-Man has been tracing him and he puts his sinister plan into action by suddenly hitting the brakes, helping the prisoners overcome the guards, and letting them loose in the city to spark chaos.

Spider-Man swings into action as prisoners get off the bus. Already stressed and obsessed with his search for the Chameleon, he lands on top of the bus and gains access through one of the windows. As the Chameleon fails to maintain his disguise, the webslinger notices him…

Quality

Following the events of the first two chapters, the storytelling in this comic book really turned intense as the stakes were raised. As expected, Spider-Man is doing things the hard way as his obsession for revenge against the Chameleon continues to burn strongly, and his wife Mary Jane is suffering from the loneliness connected with it.

On the raising of stakes in the plot, there is a theme about terrorism here which is dramatized through the Chameleon’s elaborate plan of setting off bombs in several parts of New York. As such, the story has this emphasis on chaos which works well with the webslinger’s state of madness and desperation. Along the way, Spider-Man’s humanity remains as dramatized in key points of the comic book.

In connection with the chaos and terrorism elements, the action here looked grounded with reality and Alex Saviuk’s style made the tale look gritty.

One notable part of this comic book shows the development of a separate sub-plot in Washington, D.C., which reflects developments that took place in Web of Spider-Man #109 to #111. It has a touch of politics and was effectively a distraction from the main story.  

Conclusion

Web of Spider-Man #112 (1994) is easily the most intense and most action-packed chapter of the Pursuit storyline. The themes of chaos and terrorism here easily overshadowed Spider-Man’s obsessive state and yet the creative team succeeded in moving the plot forward. That said, the stage is all set for the conclusion of the Pursuit storyline and I am looking forward to it.

Overall, Web of Spider-Man #112 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Spectacular Spider-Man #211 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

Following the tragedy told in Amazing Spider-Man #388, Spider-Man got broken emotionally and he started lusting for revenge against the Chameleon in Spider-Man #45 which marked the beginning of the Pursuit storyline. Along the way, the webslinger became more intense, more violent and his marriage with Mary Jane got strained even more.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spectacular Spider-Man #211, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Mike Lackey and drawn by Sal Buscema. This is the 2nd chapter of the Pursuit storyline.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man overwhelming an entire gang of dangerous men on the rooftop of a building. Even though they were armed dangerous, the obsessed webslinger successfully hurt each of them until they fell down on the floor. He beat them all as he obsessively searched for answers about the Chameleon. One of them told Spider-Man they don’t know where the Chameleon is but they heard that he offered a million Dollars to hit him (Spidey). Realizing that he just had another dead end for his search, the webslinger traps them all with his web and then swings away to another destination.

Meanwhile at one of the units of a residential tower in New York, the Chameleon cannot help but smash a lot of things as he struggles with his anger and hatred with Spider-Man. He knows that it is a matter of time before the webslinger finds him…

Quality

In this 2nd chapter of the Pursuit storyline, things really intensified as the plot unraveled. As Spider-Man does his search for the Chameleon and answers, the said super villain executed his strategies that involve deception and deep resources that go beyond money. As such, the webslinger became the target of Tracer who has a powered suit of armor and high-tech weaponry.

As anticipated, Spider-Man remains driven by revenge in his quest for the Chameleon and because of his broken emotional state, he has gotten more violent with his physical action. He also turned sarcastic in key moments which is a lively reminder that this Spider-Man is no longer the friendly neighborhood hero he used to be. The famous webslinger is not completely unhinged here as his concern for bystanders showed he still has some humanity left within him.

When it comes to the Chameleon, this comic book portrays him to be very cunning and resourceful. His deception towards others might draw emotions from you and might make you wish he will suffer a lot once Spider-Man finds him.

Conclusion

As the 2nd part of the Pursuit storyline, Spectacular Spider-Man #211 (1994) delivers a portrayal of a deeply hurt Spider-Man whose lust for revenge keeps him going no matter what obstacles he faces. As readers, we witness his intense search for the dreaded villain Chameleon as well as his emotional deterioration. That said, this comic book has a somewhat depressing tone as Spider-Man’s life gets worse and his wife Mary Jane is suffering too. Ultimately, this comic book convinced me to continue with the storyline.

Overall, Spectacular Spider-Man #211 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #108 (1985)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

I found issue #107 – the first issue of the Sin-Eater storyline – a pretty engaging tale focused on the murder of Jean DeWolff. The sudden demise of DeWolff really impacted the city of New York and its tale involved not only Spider-Man but also Daredevil. The tale is really a murder mystery that is very grounded with reality.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #108, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written by the late Peter David and the late Rich Buckler.

Early story

The story begins with Judge Rosenthal lying dead on the floor in his office. Moments earlier, the judge was killed by the Sin-Eater who used a shotgun and in the same room was Matt Murdock (Daredevil). Some people entered the office and the local authorities were called. Murdock slowly makes his way out to discreetly go after the Sin-Eater.

In another part of the city, Peter Parker, Aunt May and the elderly friend named Ernie walk together coming from the courthouse. Ernie could not believe that Judge Rosenthal let go of the punks who mugged him.

As they walked further, people around them begin to panic and move around fast. Peter gets separated from his aunt and Ernie, and eventually he realizes that the Sin-Eater is several feet away armed with a shotgun. The Sin-Eater is speaking to the people even though he is causing a huge disturbance.

Moments later, Peter changed into Spider-Man and proceeds to confront the Sin-Eater in front of many witnesses…

Quality

Following the events of issue #107, this comic book shows more of the Sin-Eater and the story emphasizes why he is very dangerous to everyone. The Sin-Eater is not a superbeing himself, and yet he is capable of killing people and causing chaos in public without the need of having multiple weapons and ammunition. That said, he is tremendous villain that Spider-Man has difficulty handling.

The physical encounter between Spider-Man and the Sin-Eater here is unsurprisingly ground in reality. The comic book action visualized by Rich Buckler has this raw action aesthetic and each time a physical blow was executed, impact is really felt. Don’t expect dynamic action here but a more realism and believability.

What makes the fight between the two unique is that it happened in front of a lot of people on New York City’s street. As the fight went on, Spider-Man struggles not only with fighting the Sin-Eater (a truly violent opponent) but also dealing with the risk of bystanders getting hurt and realizing what happened to his beloved Aunt May.

As expected, the detective story elements in this tale are very strong. Spider-Man, who is not a professional detective at all, gets to do detective work with a sheer determination to solve the mystery behind the death of Jean DeWolff. Along the way, I love how the David-Buckler duo invested a lot of details about the crime which are really worth paying attention to as you read.

Conclusion

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #108 (1985) is a powerful follow-up in the Sin-Eater storyline. As it contains all the key elements that made issue #107 a very unique and engaging read, this comic book executed good pay-off to the build-up in the previous issue while consistently building-up the plot simultaneously which is typical of Peter David (read the Spider-Man 2099 comic books back-to-back). As of now, this Sin-Eater storyline is compelling and I am looking forward to what comes next.

Overall, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #108 (1985) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (1985)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

As I was not a regular reader of Spectacular Spider-Man comics, I missed out on the Sin-Eater storyline. I first learned about the Sin-Eater while reading a key flashback in Amazing Spider-Man #300. That particular detail boggled me for some time, and it was only recently I decided to start reading the comic books about the Sin-Eater.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107, published in 1985 by Marvel Comics with a story written by the late Peter David (Spider-Man 2099) and by the late Rich Buckler.

Early story

The story begins with Jean DeWolff recalling several important details from her past as well as her family background. Her father was a police inspector who never forgave her mother for giving birth to her. She was only six months old when her parents split up. Sometime later, her mother married a patrolman named Carl Weatherby and Jean herself admired her stepfather.

As she grew into adulthood, Jean was very influenced by her patrolman stepfather and she went on to go into police academy and graduated. Jean went on to become a fast-rising policewoman.

In the present day, New York police officers barged into a private residence searching for captain DeWolff and the place had bad odor. A dead woman was found inside a bedroom….

Quality

The first thing I will say about this comic book is that the writing done by Peter David is very grounded with reality and this resulted in a dark and gritty approach to storytelling. The heart of the story is the sudden murder of policewoman Jean DeWolff and its impact on the city of New York is strong and evident.

The story here is ultimately a detective story with a good amount of mystery, suspense and intrigue laced all over it. Along the way, Spider-Man here is barely the protagonist as the impact of Jean DeWolff’s murder has been dramatized through multiple characters in the city from J. Jonah Jameson to Matt Murdock (Daredevil).

This comic book also examines how the justice system in Marvel’s fictional portrayal of New York City works and it actually showed Peter Parker attending witnessing a court room arraignment to see how the bad guys he dealt with (as Spider-Man) were handled by the system. Again, this shows how grounded in reality the story is and the details should be seen. There is also a strong sense of local community dramatized.

The art by Rich Buckler is excellent and he really brought to life Peter David’s script with a heavy emphasis on realism. It seems to me that the illustrator took inspiration from TV shows and movies to achieve a unique visual style fitting for this particular tale.

Conclusion

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (1985) is indeed a very powerful tale that has to be seen if you want a gritty 1980s Spider-Man story. The David-Buckler creative duo delivered a very grounded story about murder in New York City that impacted its people which serves as a reminder that violent crime can cause waves of disturbance and disruption. That said, this first chapter of Sin-Eater storyline is pretty believable. As the creative team emphasized the murder’s impact on a wide scale, it is not surprising that Spider-Man’s share of the spotlight was sacrificed somewhat to achieve it. As of now, I am looking forward to the next chapter of the Sin-Eater storyline.

Overall, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (1985) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders #3 | Comic Review

Dark Horse has a fantastic story on their hands with Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders # 3. These are the kinds of stories that I think will continue to flourish in the “Phase More” aspect of the The High Republic.

This was a great book following Jedi Master Temesh, Padawan Anula, and Pol the Pathfinder. They are continuing their investigation into the murder of Master Atticus Cale, and after answering a distress call, they stumble upon another murder mystery.

The book is brilliant and continues to impress every release. George Mann and Caio Filipe are a great team.

Now, the bummer is that we have to wait until nearly the end of August for the next book in the series to come out. They sure are stretching this release schedule for all they can.

This book is going to be fantastic once it’s collected.

Book: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Pathfinders # 3

Publisher: Dark Horse

Written by: George Mann

Illustrated by: Caio Filipe

Colored by: Michael Atiyeh

Lettered by: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith and Bobby Bradford

Cover Art by: Jake Bartok

Black Star #1 Review: Titan Comics Delivers a Brutal Northern Gothic Debut https://comicbookaddicts.com/2026/07/black-star-1-review-titan-comics/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #BlackStar1 #TitanComics #ComicReview #NorthernGothic #GothicHorror

Does Mastodon have people who review comics? I was recommended try to find out people willing to give my comicbook - or the Web comic - an honest review.

I cannot provide book copies, but the webcomic is entirely free to read in Tapastic, and the first 100 comics are the ones shown in the comicbook. It isn't exactly same experience visually, as the book contains bonus art and comics, but technically it is the same thing.

#comics #ComicReview #Reviewer #WebcomicReview #Bookstodon #FediHelp

Does Mastodon have people who review comics? I was recommended try to find out people willing to give my comicbook - or the Web comic - an honest review.

I cannot provide book copies, but the webcomic is entirely free to read in Tapastic, and the first 100 comics are the ones shown in the comicbook. It isn't exactly same experience visually, as the book contains bonus art and comics, but technically it is the same thing.

#comics #ComicReview #Reviewer #WebcomicReview #Bookstodon #FediHelp

Does Mastodon have people who review comics? I was recommended try to find out people willing to give my comicbook - or the Web comic - an honest review.

I cannot provide book copies, but the webcomic is entirely free to read in Tapastic, and the first 100 comics are the ones shown in the comicbook. It isn't exactly same experience visually, as the book contains bonus art and comics, but technically it is the same thing.

#comics #ComicReview #Reviewer #WebcomicReview #Bookstodon #FediHelp

Does Mastodon have people who review comics? I was recommended try to find out people willing to give my comicbook - or the Web comic - an honest review.

I cannot provide book copies, but the webcomic is entirely free to read in Tapastic, and the first 100 comics are the ones shown in the comicbook. It isn't exactly same experience visually, as the book contains bonus art and comics, but technically it is the same thing.

#comics #ComicReview #Reviewer #WebcomicReview #Bookstodon #FediHelp

A Look Back at Team 7 #3 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1995 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the original WildStorm universe through one of the comic books of the first mini-series of Team 7.

For the newcomers reading this, Team 7 is set in the past within the original WildStorm universe. This is the special forces team that had major WildStorm heroes – Grifter (WildCATS: Covert Action Teams), Backlash, Jackson Dane (Wetworks), John Lynch (Gen13) and Michael Cray (Deathblow) – who were younger, were proficient with combat and gained special abilities as a result of a sinister move by their superiors. Issue #2 took place after the team got exposed to something they never anticipated and their superiors knew it.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Team 7 #3, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Aron Wiesenfeld. This is the 3rd chapter of a 4-issue mini-series.

Early story

Set in the 1970s, the surviving Team 7 members (already exposed to the chemical agent) are in the middle of a new mission somewhere in East Africa. Because their teammate Johnson abused his new power to manipulate a black general to kill himself against his own will, Cole Cash eliminates Johnson causing John Lynch to be outraged. Cash tells Lynch that Johnson lost himself completely. He also tells him to list Johnson as MIA (missing-in-action) and turn a blind eye as before.

Lynch points his gun at Cash’s head believing he is standing for the mission and rules. After Cash tells him that they are monsters and that the world is better off without them, Lynch relents and shoots the wall instead. The mission concludes and Team 7 goes home by helicopter.

As the ride goes on, John Lynch thinks very deeply about everything that happened since they got exposed to the chemical agent. He realizes that they were exposed to genetic altering elements and wonders if he and his teammates were nothing more than lab rats for International Operations (IO)…

Quality

If there is anything notable here apart from the continued dark and gritty tone, the plot really thickened clearly. At this stage, it is more obvious that the superiors have indeed something more sinister planned for Team 7 to endure. They know that the infected team members are closing ranks to protect itself which means they are ready for the so-called final test.

Along the way, John Lynch gradually realizes the evil of his superiors and being the field leader, he begins to analyze what is best for him and his teammates and which options to take knowing the betrayal from above. Quitting is simply not an option for Lynch and the pressure builds up as the story went on. Cole Cash here sees things very clearly and he easily became the pathfinder among Team 7 members. When he scolds his teammate Fairchild (father of Gen13’s Caitlin Fairchild) for abusing his power in a public place while off-duty, it is clear that Cash wants to keep the team together by means of keeping together while maintaining sanity.

As for Team 7 itself, there is something intriguing that awaits readers once they start their new mission here. I won’t spoil it and it has to be seen. Simply grab a copy of this comic book, read it and pay attention to the details. It’s strong stuff from the creative team.

Conclusion

Team 7 #3 (1994) has a lot of intrigue as the plot thickened. At this stage, it is clear that IO is really up to no good and Team 7 is symbolically their scientific and military experiment. Fortunately for the team, they have John Lynch and Cole Cash as the reasonable members who are able to cut through the noise and became aware of what IO has been executing. The stage is set for the concluding issue and this comic book is indeed a solid build-up and also an engaging WildStorm read.

Overall, Team 7 #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Comic Review: Star Wars: Rogue One – Cassian Andor #1

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #rogueone #cassianandor #marvel 

We review Star Wars: Rogue One – Cassian Andor #1.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-rogue-one-cassian-andor-1/

A Look Back at Gen13 #1 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

There is a lot to enjoy in the WildStorm comic book universe of the 1990s with such titles like WildCATS: Covert Action Teams, Team 7, StormWatch, Grifter, Backlash and Wetworks to name some. The WildStorm depicts the world as chaotic filled with strong paramilitary concepts, conspiracies and even aliens from deep space.

Along the way, WildStorm has its own take on the sub-genre of super-powered teenagers which was realized as Gen13 (stylized as Gen13). Strangely enough, the team – which actually first appeared in the Deathmate Black crossover comic book in 1993 – was originally titled as Gen X but WildStorm had to rebrand it into Gen13 as Marvel Comics already trademarked the name Generation X for an X-Men-related comic book project. To learn more about production history and background of Gen13, click here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell (ink work by Alex Garner). This is the first issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins sometime in 1979 when a married couple (Stephen and Rachel Callahan) desperate runs away with their two little children. A team of armored troops (the Black Razors) riding two hovering vehicles catches up with them and hit Rachel with bullets passing through her body. Stephen, who is carrying his son Matthew, uses his power to destroy one of the hovering vehicles. One of the Black Razors realized that the husband is gen-active and nobody informed their team that he was with Gen12.

Agonizing with severe head pain, Stephen tells Matthew to take his little sister Nicole with him and run to the trees. As far as Stephen is concerned, he is finished and all he can do is buy time for the two little children to escape. He tells Matthew to protect his sister. Suddenly, the Black Razors killed Stephen right in front of Matthew and Nicole.

Fifteen years later, a young, nerdy college student named Caitlin Fairchild makes her way through the college campus in Princeton. She is a gifted student who has been focused on maintaining a high grade and graduate with her advanced degree in computer science in the near future.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, she meets her promiscuous roommate Alexa who informs her that some guys arrived earlier looking for her. The guys were described as middle-aged suits and they wanted to talk to Caitlin about some internship program. Alexa then leaves.

A few hours later, Caitlin wakes up as the door gets knocked. Special agent baker of the National Security Committee tells her that she has been accepted into the Gen13 program and her presence is immediately required in order to process her into the program before it begins the next day…

Quality

I enjoyed this comic book the first time I had it in 1994. I can clearly say that it is still fun and engaging to read again today.

This comic book was written with the intention to introduce super-powered teenagers as a new and really distinctive team in one corner of the original WildStorm universe while also expanding the lore by focusing more on International Operations’ unethical covert operations which will easily remind people about government conspiracies, top secret missions and the like. The story has really strong elements about conspiracies, unethical scientific experiments and even human rights violations. The story by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi has a strong structure but what stood out to me was the really creative writing done to bring the characters to life complete with a touch of the 1990s vibe (in reference to comic book trends and real-life society).

John Lynch, a former member of Team 7 and also one of the high-ranking officials of IO who occasionally appeared in prior WildStorm comic books, gets a nice share of the spotlight in the story and indeed he is not full control of his organization. In fact, IO’s execution of a new program about developing people with special abilities or powers (without their knowledge) raises Lynch’s concerns as he himself was a victim of betrayal and exposure to an experimental gas during his time with Team 7. Lynch also appeared in The Kindred mini-series (read my reviews by clicking here, here and here).

When it comes to the characters, Gen13’s members here are introduced with notable differences in terms of personality. The nerdy Caitlin Fairchild is the very promising smart young lady who has the potential to succeed. Bobby (Burnout) is the quiet guy who quickly realizes that true unity is needed in order for a group to succeed under the program they are in. Roxy is the undisciplined and rebellious young lady while Grunge is the loose cannon and has trouble with authorities. While it is clear you won’t see much of their powers yet in this comic book, they turned out to be interesting enough to follow thanks to the strong creative writing by Lee and Choi.

When it comes to the visuals, Jeffrey Scott Campbell’s artworks really stood out mainly due to his distinctive style. If you look closely at how he draws the faces of women – particularly the ones who are young and fit – you will realize the exaggerated look complete with the big eyes and curves seen on females in anime or even manga (Japanese comics). If you are looking visual realism on the characters, you won’t find it here at all. Campbell’s style truly defined the look of the characters and yet he was able to draw armored troops (Black Razors and the armed security guard) with a really high level of details (including their weapons) which really stood out visually. Campbell is also good with superhero spectacle and hard action. Last but not least, there is a deliberate amount of erotic imagery in this comic book which serves as a reminder that this is a story aimed at young adult and adult readers.  

Conclusion

Indeed, Gen13 #1 (1994) remains entertaining to read mainly because of the strong writing. The story moved at a smooth pace, the exposition was done cleverly, and the characters ended up being worthy enough to pay attention to. By the time I reached the end, I am convinced to go on to the next issue and rediscover not only more of the mini-series but also the way it expanded the lore of the WildStorm universe of the 1990s. This comic book alone strongly emphasized the connections with other elements of the WildStorm universe, particularly with Team 7 (its mini-series launched months after this one) and the dark legacy of IO. It is an adulterated superhero comic book that really offered readers something new and intriguing.

Overall, Gen13 #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3 (1996)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back science fiction enthusiasts, 20th century pop culture enthusiasts, Star Wars fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 to examine the 3rd chapter of a very notable Star Wars storyline that took place between the films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi…Shadows of the Empire!  

With the first two issues of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire released (click here and here), the overall concept of the storyline has firmly been set and with sub-plots moving. This includes characters and developments that were not reflected nor referenced at in Return of the Jedi. At this stage, there is both excitement and suspense to look forward to.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3, published in 1996 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by John Wagner and drawn by Kilian Plunkett. This is the 3rd chapter of the 6-issue mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins with the gang of Gizman – including the newcomer Jix – who visit Jabba The Hutt in his palace for an important meeting. After expressing doubt about Jix, Jabba tells the gang that he is aware of Luke Skywalker’s presence in Tatooine and he has been signed near the former dwelling of Ben Kenobi. Jabba finds Skywalker more valuable to him dead. A short time later, Jix asked why does Jabba want Skywalker dead when Darth Vader will on pay for him to be living. This causes a bit of tension within the gang.

With R2D2 present with him at Obi-Wan’s old place, Luke Skywalker completed his brand-new lightsaber. Suddenly a laser blast almost hits them both and Luke realizes that the gang (which just met Jabba) is fast approaching them. The laser blast came from Jix who was told to hold his fire. Moments later, Luke takes down the first gang member who arrived using his new lightsaber…

Quality

Like issue #2, the intrigue and twists kept on happening as the pay-offs to the previous issue’s build-up got executed. Indeed, the story here moved Shadows of the Empire’s concept forward gradually and what was shown is both entertaining and engaging.

You will see here Luke Skywalker’s first-ever use of his then new green-colored lightsaber (the same one in Return of the Jedi) as he becomes a target of Jabba The Hutt who has a violent gang targeting him. Dash Rendar, arguably a creative stand-in for Han Solo in this storyline and also the playable protagonist in the Nintendo 64 video game, becomes even more important as he took the risk of involving himself with Luke as the gang attacked. The interaction between Dash and Luke here is believable to follow and makes a lot of sense within the context of this storyline.

What I found captivating here was the scene in which Darth Vader actually (and bravely) objected to Emperor Palpatine’s plan. The scene was pretty short but it was a powerful display of tension and even division between them. Along the way, Prince Xizor remains relevant with regards to the potential events waiting to happen while more of Boba Fett’s struggle being targeted (as the frozen body of Han Solo is a very valuable prize for other bounty hunters) by others was dramatized nicely.

Conclusion

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3 (1996) succeeded in moving the story developments forward while ending up being entertaining enough. The speed bike chase in Beggar’s Canyon along was exhilarating to see and the dramatic moments of the sub-plots had impact. Right now, I am convinced to keep on reading more of Shadows of the Empire.

Overall, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #3 (1996) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at The Kindred #3 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the WildStorm universe through The Kindred mini-series.

Having read the first two issues, I can say that the plot has been built-up into something that justifies not only the reuniting of former Team 7 teammates Grifter and Backlash (who hate each other) but also the consequences caused by IO’s (International Operations) a long time prior. So far the creative team of WildStorm father Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Sean Ruffner and artist Brett Booth succeeded in telling an entertaining story with a balance on action, suspense and intrigue.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Kindred #3, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Sean Ruffner and Brett Booth. Booth illustrated the comic book.  

Early story

The story begins with John Lynch being helpless in front of Bloodmoon, the vicious leader of the Kindred. Lynch tells him that he has no recollection of him, the Kindred and the crimes he has been accused of. Regardless, Lynch is being prepared for the trial under the Kindred’s system of justice.

Bloodmoon learns from one of his pawns that they captured the three men who were sent to rescue the prisoners. Two of the captured were sensed to have the Kindred’s blood within them. Bloodmoon then orders to have them brought to him immediately.

Minutes later, Grifter and Backlash – both battered and worn down – were brought to Bloodmoon.

Quality

Following the events of issue #2, there is a huge pay-off in this comic book and it added more depth into the plot. With Lynch, Backlash and Grifter – all of them were teammates in Team 7 a long time prior – helpless early in the story, the stakes really went high up as something significant about Bloodmoon and how the Kindred started got revealed.

Bloodmoon is not the typical comic book villain. His origin and how the Kindred was established are linked to the high-stakes experiments IO conducted on animals on Caballito (this makes IO’s top-secret experimentation on humans to unlock super-human potential literally just the tip of the iceberg). The way Bloodmoon was portrayed here, he is convinced that he exists with an undeniable purpose to lead the Kindred while getting striking back at humanity for vengeance starting with IO and former Team 7 members. The tragic events of the past made him a very hardened character and the living and walking evidence of IO’s unethical experimentation agenda.

Worth focusing here is, unsurprisingly, the uneasy new alliance between Grifter and Backlash who had no choice but to set aside their differences to survive and somehow bring down Bloodmoon deep within the turf of the Kindred. You will get a glimpse as to how they used to work during their time with Team 7 and how they could pull off tough achievements with their modern-day abilities and technology. The dynamics between the two former Team 7 teammates is a must-see and there are indeed 1980s Hollywood action film vibes embedded within.

Not to be outdone is John Lynch whose super-human potential gets unleashed while being in the middle of a very desperate situation facing three deadly enemies at once. Lynch here gets more of the spotlight and he does something else apart from serving as a convenient tool for exposition about IO and its past.  

Conclusion

As the plot moved closer to concluding, The Kindred #3 (1994) had the stakes raised a lot for the former Team 7 members involved as well as IO’s current people. The big reveal that happened late in the comic book was pretty powerful and it will encourage readers to focus more on the past operations of IO as well as Team 7. At this stage in the publishing history of Image Comics, WildStorm’s para-military concepts got solidified more effectively setting the stage for the launch of the original Team 7 mini-series. As for The Kindred mini-series, the engagement and entertainment value of issue #3 convinced me to go on to issue #4.

Overall, The Kindred #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4 (1998)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, video game enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late-1990s to examine another issue of the magazine-sized comic book series titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine.

Having read the first three issues of the RE comic book magazine series, I can say that the quality has been mixed. While issue #2 had pretty bad Resident Evil 2 illustrated adaptation, issue #3 had a short story that functioned as a sequel to Resident Evil (1996) in the form of a polished fan fiction. There were other short stories that turned out serviceable to intriguing and surprisingly entertaining to read. How much creative freedom WildStorm had in its publishing deal with Capcom remains unclear.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4, published by WildStorm/Image Comics in 1998 with short stories written by Ted Adams, Marc Mostman and Kris Oprisko, and drawn by Rafael Kayanan, Ryan Odagawa and Norman Felchie.

Early stories

Night Stalkers – In a sleepy town in the southwestern part of America, two men suddenly got abducted by humanoid bats (referred to as “zombie bats” by the publisher) and were brought to a secret facility of Umbrella. The scientists of Umbrella have the technology to control the bats and they have already abducted many people who became helpless subjects of a transmutation process. Back in the sleepy town, the community is panicking and the son of the sheriff was rescued from a group of humanoid bats. In response to the town’s call for help, the United States government sends agent Leon Kennedy to solve their problem.

Special Delivery – Two helicopter operators working for Umbrella are tasked to lift special containers of their company’s bio-weapons. Their goal is to drop specific containers at different sites within and outside of Raccoon City. One by one, the monsters of Umbrella are dropped in some very unsuspecting laps from above.

Zombies Aboard – Inside the airplane, Chris Redfield, his sister Claire and Barry Burton realize the there is nobody left to pilot the aircraft. Using the flight training he had with S.T.A.R.S., Chris takes control of the airplane.

Quality

This early, I can say that I was entertained by this Resident Evil comic book.

The first short story Night Stalkers is WildStorm’s next attempt of making a sequel to Resident Evil following Leon Kennedy on his mission to take on Umbrella and the town it affected. There are no zombies but Umbrella’s scientists and the project leader are using man-sized bats to spread the G-virus and their methods clearly caused human rights violations on the victims. This short story, which was well written and had a good structure, is actually prophetic because it portrayed Leon Kennedy as an agent of the US government and this comic book was released many years before Resident Evil 4 (2005) came out. For context, Leon Kennedy in RE4 worked for the US government and his mission was to rescue the American President’s daughter. In the short story and in the said video game, both versions of Leon Kennedy showed him being very proficient with action and he has no fear going up against multiple enemies. One has to wonder if RE creator and RE4 game director Shinji Mikami ever read Night Stalkers for inspiration. Night Stalkers is entertaining.

The second short story Special Delivery is a really intriguing look at the personnel who operated the helicopter to transport Umbrella’s monsters. This is in reference to what happened in Resident Evil 2 as Mr. X got dropped down. There are no established characters here but that’s not a problem because the story made a lot of sense and fit in nicely with the Resident Evil universe. It also shows how unethical, cold-hearted and evil Umbrella really is not only towards its business rivals but also against humanity. This one is surprisingly entertaining.

The final short story Zombies Aboard follows Chris, Jill and Barry Burton on their high-risk mission to find Umbrella in Europe and stop them from causing danger on the world. This is the continuation of Dead Air in issue #3 and it was a serious attempt by WildStorm creators to function as a sequel to the RE games of the time. With regards to its quality, the short story was structured with action and horror in mind. While the three established RE characters search for Umbrella, the story lacked depth as there is way too little detective elements in it. Instead, you will see the S.T.A.R.S. members firing or stabbing or slashing zombies they encountered from England to Germany (the story never showed the authorities reacting to the collateral damage caused by the three), and it is at the very end of the tale when the suspense and horror came in. This short story is clearly less engaging compared to its predecessor. At least the art work is good and the artist did not hold back on the violence.

Conclusion

With the three stories featured, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4 (1998) is just as entertaining as issue #3. For me, the only letdown was the final short story. The highlight was actually the first short story as it turned out to be very prophetic as to how Leon Kennedy would eventually turn out in video games – the brave and dynamic action hero millions of fans and gamers today enjoy.

Overall, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #4 (1998) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, video game enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late-1990s to examine another issue of the magazine-sized comic book series titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine.

By the time WildStorm Productions released the 3rd issue in 1998, many millions of gamers around the world played Resident Evil 2 on PlayStation. The Resident Evil fanbase expanded dramatically and many of them completed the game’s multiple scenarios. At the same time, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield became popular characters in gaming.

The 2nd issue I reviewed had a very bad adaptation of Resident Evil 2’s story. What prevented the comic book from ending up as a complete disaster were the two other short stories which were surprisingly entertaining to read. Still, I wonder if Shinji Mikami and the game developers ever saw the abysmal Resident Evil 2 adaptation in the 2nd issue.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3, published by WildStorm/Image Comics in 1998 with short stories written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko, and drawn by Ryan Odagawa, Carlos D’Anda and Lee Bermejo.

Early stories

Wolf Hunt – At Raccoon City College, a few students talk about someone who got killed at school and her body was all torn up. They aware that the authorities are keeping the story out of the papers to avoid causing a panic. In the evening, of the students got harmed by a ferocious monster. The next day at S.T.A.R.S. headquarters, Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton discuss the killings that happened at the city college. They were asked by the local police to investigate what happened. Jill takes the assignment of going undercover as a student.

Danger Island – A man and a woman arrive at Isla Bonale in Caribbean for a vacation. The island is so exclusive, they only let ten couples on it at a time. After having a romantic night of dinner and dancing, they decide to go snorkeling and rent a boat. Just as they start snorkeling, a plane crashes on the island.

Dead Air – Following the events of Resident Evil (1996) and Resident Evil 2, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton start traveling to Europe with the goal of ending Umbrella’s current progress on a new variation of the T-virus even though they have to go undercover. They have the support of a top-secret international agency which already has someone in place to help them. Meanwhile, Umbrella has a spy watching on the three.

Quality

Similar to issue #2, this comic book has three short stories and some extras.

The short story Wolf Hunt, which took place before the events of the original Resident Evil game of 1996, has the odd concept of having werewolves existing within the RE universe. Werewolves are often super natural and such monsters don’t align with the sci-fi and biological aspects of the Resident Evil games. In fairness, the creative team had this interesting concept of having Jill Valentine going undercover as a student in the city college to find answers and solve the problem. I should state that the artwork by Ryan Odagawa is good overall although his take on Jill Valentine is cartoonish. This story is pretty short and lacked a solid conclusion. It’s really a glorified piece of fan fiction that should interest fans of the 1996 game.

Danger Island, the 2nd short story, is easily the gem of this comic book. This is a completely original tale that has brand-new lead characters – the couple Stan and Leslie – and an island as the setting. Without spoiling the plot, this is a suspense story with a moderate pace, some dynamic visuals and a good implementation of elements from the lore of Resident Evil. The creative team behind this tale emphasized that as long as Umbrella and is biological experiments exist, danger and death will creep up on people regardless of location. A notable monster species from Resident Evil 2 is included here and the effects the G-virus has on creatures on the island are cleverly presented complete with nice artwork by Lee Bermejo.

Through the couple, readers will feel the danger, desperation and anxiety as the story went on. How the story ended is a must-see and I am confident it will encourage you to revisit Resident Evil 2.  

The final tale Dead Air is a daring attempt by WildStorm’s creators to make a sequel to the first two games. As mentioned above, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton are together on a high-risk mission to find and stop Umbrella in Europe. The main setting is inside a commercial flight where a zombie outbreak happens. Without their weapons, Chris, Jill and Barry are compelled to use alternative items and ways to overcome the zombies.

While this tale is packed with action and the violence is uncompromised, something is off with the way Jill Valentine is portrayed. She is more violent with action and even expressed sarcasm. This tale is pretty short as the comic book made it clear that the continuation will happen in the next issue. Considering what was told in Resident Evil: Code Veronica (released in 2000 with Chris and Claire Redfield included), Dead Air is clearly a non-canon Resident Evil tale and it is at best a polished piece of fan fiction by WildStorm.  

When it comes to the extras, you will find the Readers Art gallery and The Resident Evil Files (featuring Chris Redfield and his sister Claire). The most notable extra stuff here, however, is another interview with Resident Evil creator/producer Shinji Mikami and you will even see a few pictures of not just him but also Hideki Kamiya (the game director of Resident Evil 2 who went on to produce lots of highly entertaining games through the decades) and members of the team behind the RE games of the time. Enjoy the pages of the interview below.

Conclusion

Considering the qualities of the three short stories and the extra stuff, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is easily a huge improvement over issue #2. The quality and creativity of the short stories are better, the interview with Shinji Mikami was worth reading and the comic book itself is more entertaining. That said, I am convinced to move on to the next Resident Evil comic book.

Overall, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, video game enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late-1990s to examine another issue of the magazine-sized comic book series titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine.

By the time WildStorm Productions released the 3rd issue in 1998, many millions of gamers around the world played Resident Evil 2 on PlayStation. The Resident Evil fanbase expanded dramatically and many of them completed the game’s multiple scenarios. At the same time, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield became popular characters in gaming.

The 2nd issue I reviewed had a very bad adaptation of Resident Evil 2’s story. What prevented the comic book from ending up as a complete disaster were the two other short stories which were surprisingly entertaining to read. Still, I wonder if Shinji Mikami and the game developers ever saw the abysmal Resident Evil 2 adaptation in the 2nd issue.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3, published by WildStorm/Image Comics in 1998 with short stories written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko, and drawn by Ryan Odagawa, Carlos D’Anda and Lee Bermejo.

Early stories

Wolf Hunt – At Raccoon City College, a few students talk about someone who got killed at school and her body was all torn up. They aware that the authorities are keeping the story out of the papers to avoid causing a panic. In the evening, of the students got harmed by a ferocious monster. The next day at S.T.A.R.S. headquarters, Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton discuss the killings that happened at the city college. They were asked by the local police to investigate what happened. Jill takes the assignment of going undercover as a student.

Danger Island – A man and a woman arrive at Isla Bonale in Caribbean for a vacation. The island is so exclusive, they only let ten couples on it at a time. After having a romantic night of dinner and dancing, they decide to go snorkeling and rent a boat. Just as they start snorkeling, a plane crashes on the island.

Dead Air – Following the events of Resident Evil (1996) and Resident Evil 2, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton start traveling to Europe with the goal of ending Umbrella’s current progress on a new variation of the T-virus even though they have to go undercover. They have the support of a top-secret international agency which already has someone in place to help them. Meanwhile, Umbrella has a spy watching on the three.

Quality

Similar to issue #2, this comic book has three short stories and some extras.

The short story Wolf Hunt, which took place before the events of the original Resident Evil game of 1996, has the odd concept of having werewolves existing within the RE universe. Werewolves are often super natural and such monsters don’t align with the sci-fi and biological aspects of the Resident Evil games. In fairness, the creative team had this interesting concept of having Jill Valentine going undercover as a student in the city college to find answers and solve the problem. I should state that the artwork by Ryan Odagawa is good overall although his take on Jill Valentine is cartoonish. This story is pretty short and lacked a solid conclusion. It’s really a glorified piece of fan fiction that should interest fans of the 1996 game.

Danger Island, the 2nd short story, is easily the gem of this comic book. This is a completely original tale that has brand-new lead characters – the couple Stan and Leslie – and an island as the setting. Without spoiling the plot, this is a suspense story with a moderate pace, some dynamic visuals and a good implementation of elements from the lore of Resident Evil. The creative team behind this tale emphasized that as long as Umbrella and is biological experiments exist, danger and death will creep up on people regardless of location. A notable monster species from Resident Evil 2 is included here and the effects the G-virus has on creatures on the island are cleverly presented complete with nice artwork by Lee Bermejo.

Through the couple, readers will feel the danger, desperation and anxiety as the story went on. How the story ended is a must-see and I am confident it will encourage you to revisit Resident Evil 2.  

The final tale Dead Air is a daring attempt by WildStorm’s creators to make a sequel to the first two games. As mentioned above, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton are together on a high-risk mission to find and stop Umbrella in Europe. The main setting is inside a commercial flight where a zombie outbreak happens. Without their weapons, Chris, Jill and Barry are compelled to use alternative items and ways to overcome the zombies.

While this tale is packed with action and the violence is uncompromised, something is off with the way Jill Valentine is portrayed. She is more violent with action and even expressed sarcasm. This tale is pretty short as the comic book made it clear that the continuation will happen in the next issue. Considering what was told in Resident Evil: Code Veronica (released in 2000 with Chris and Claire Redfield included), Dead Air is clearly a non-canon Resident Evil tale and it is at best a polished piece of fan fiction by WildStorm.  

When it comes to the extras, you will find the Readers Art gallery and The Resident Evil Files (featuring Chris Redfield and his sister Claire). The most notable extra stuff here, however, is another interview with Resident Evil creator/producer Shinji Mikami and you will even see a few pictures of not just him but also Hideki Kamiya (the game director of Resident Evil 2 who went on to produce lots of highly entertaining games through the decades) and members of the team behind the RE games of the time. Enjoy the pages of the interview below.

Conclusion

Considering the qualities of the three short stories and the extra stuff, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is easily a huge improvement over issue #2. The quality and creativity of the short stories are better, the interview with Shinji Mikami was worth reading and the comic book itself is more entertaining. That said, I am convinced to move on to the next Resident Evil comic book.

Overall, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

A Look Back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, video game enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the late-1990s to examine another issue of the magazine-sized comic book series titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine.

By the time WildStorm Productions released the 3rd issue in 1998, many millions of gamers around the world played Resident Evil 2 on PlayStation. The Resident Evil fanbase expanded dramatically and many of them completed the game’s multiple scenarios. At the same time, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield became popular characters in gaming.

The 2nd issue I reviewed had a very bad adaptation of Resident Evil 2’s story. What prevented the comic book from ending up as a complete disaster were the two other short stories which were surprisingly entertaining to read. Still, I wonder if Shinji Mikami and the game developers ever saw the abysmal Resident Evil 2 adaptation in the 2nd issue.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3, published by WildStorm/Image Comics in 1998 with short stories written by Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko, and drawn by Ryan Odagawa, Carlos D’Anda and Lee Bermejo.

Early stories

Wolf Hunt – At Raccoon City College, a few students talk about someone who got killed at school and her body was all torn up. They aware that the authorities are keeping the story out of the papers to avoid causing a panic. In the evening, of the students got harmed by a ferocious monster. The next day at S.T.A.R.S. headquarters, Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton discuss the killings that happened at the city college. They were asked by the local police to investigate what happened. Jill takes the assignment of going undercover as a student.

Danger Island – A man and a woman arrive at Isla Bonale in Caribbean for a vacation. The island is so exclusive, they only let ten couples on it at a time. After having a romantic night of dinner and dancing, they decide to go snorkeling and rent a boat. Just as they start snorkeling, a plane crashes on the island.

Dead Air – Following the events of Resident Evil (1996) and Resident Evil 2, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton start traveling to Europe with the goal of ending Umbrella’s current progress on a new variation of the T-virus even though they have to go undercover. They have the support of a top-secret international agency which already has someone in place to help them. Meanwhile, Umbrella has a spy watching on the three.

Quality

Similar to issue #2, this comic book has three short stories and some extras.

The short story Wolf Hunt, which took place before the events of the original Resident Evil game of 1996, has the odd concept of having werewolves existing within the RE universe. Werewolves are often super natural and such monsters don’t align with the sci-fi and biological aspects of the Resident Evil games. In fairness, the creative team had this interesting concept of having Jill Valentine going undercover as a student in the city college to find answers and solve the problem. I should state that the artwork by Ryan Odagawa is good overall although his take on Jill Valentine is cartoonish. This story is pretty short and lacked a solid conclusion. It’s really a glorified piece of fan fiction that should interest fans of the 1996 game.

Danger Island, the 2nd short story, is easily the gem of this comic book. This is a completely original tale that has brand-new lead characters – the couple Stan and Leslie – and an island as the setting. Without spoiling the plot, this is a suspense story with a moderate pace, some dynamic visuals and a good implementation of elements from the lore of Resident Evil. The creative team behind this tale emphasized that as long as Umbrella and is biological experiments exist, danger and death will creep up on people regardless of location. A notable monster species from Resident Evil 2 is included here and the effects the G-virus has on creatures on the island are cleverly presented complete with nice artwork by Lee Bermejo.

Through the couple, readers will feel the danger, desperation and anxiety as the story went on. How the story ended is a must-see and I am confident it will encourage you to revisit Resident Evil 2.  

The final tale Dead Air is a daring attempt by WildStorm’s creators to make a sequel to the first two games. As mentioned above, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine and Barry Burton are together on a high-risk mission to find and stop Umbrella in Europe. The main setting is inside a commercial flight where a zombie outbreak happens. Without their weapons, Chris, Jill and Barry are compelled to use alternative items and ways to overcome the zombies.

While this tale is packed with action and the violence is uncompromised, something is off with the way Jill Valentine is portrayed. She is more violent with action and even expressed sarcasm. This tale is pretty short as the comic book made it clear that the continuation will happen in the next issue. Considering what was told in Resident Evil: Code Veronica (released in 2000 with Chris and Claire Redfield included), Dead Air is clearly a non-canon Resident Evil tale and it is at best a polished piece of fan fiction by WildStorm.  

When it comes to the extras, you will find the Readers Art gallery and The Resident Evil Files (featuring Chris Redfield and his sister Claire). The most notable extra stuff here, however, is another interview with Resident Evil creator/producer Shinji Mikami and you will even see a few pictures of not just him but also Hideki Kamiya (the game director of Resident Evil 2 who went on to produce lots of highly entertaining games through the decades) and members of the team behind the RE games of the time. Enjoy the pages of the interview below.

Conclusion

Considering the qualities of the three short stories and the extra stuff, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is easily a huge improvement over issue #2. The quality and creativity of the short stories are better, the interview with Shinji Mikami was worth reading and the comic book itself is more entertaining. That said, I am convinced to move on to the next Resident Evil comic book.

Overall, Resident Evil: The Official Comic Book Magazine #3 (1998) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

Comic Review: Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #10

#ComicReview #StarWars #FanthaTracks #charlessoule #legacyofvader #bensolo #kyloren #lukeross 

We review Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #10.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/reviews/literature-art-reviews/comic-review-star-wars-legacy-of-vader-10/?fsp_sid=48172

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 20 | Comic Review

Following the Battle of Eriadu, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 20 brings the journey as a whole to a close.

Phase III of The High Republic Adventures was my least favorite.

For me, I thought Phase I of The High Republic Adventures from Dark Horse was better than the High Republic comics coming from Marvel, while they were about equal in Phase II. In Phase III, I really think Marvel was away with the competition, and it wasn’t very close. (It’s not really a competition though.)

I can’t really tell you what about THRA in Phase III didn’t connect with me, but I struggled for a lot of it. I’m wondering if I go back and read them in one sitting if the story will flow a little bit better for me.

Honestly, I think that a lot of it has to come to how in my brain I felt that Lula Talasola and Zeen Mrala were sidelined. It really felt like Phase I was their story, while Phase III tried to spread the love to all of the characters that we have spent time with in Dark Horse comics.

Getting to see what happened to Buckets of Blood was awesome (and terrible).

I was super bummed with what happened to Buckets of Blood in Star Wars: The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi. Still, the guy we were introduced to way back in Phase I of The High Republic Adventures went out as an absolute legend.

Haven’t Tolibao and Michael Atiyeh recreated that death in these pages, and it was heartbreaking all over again.

RIP Master Torben Buck.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for some of these characters.

The possibilities are endless with the characters as we leave THRA. There’s a lot of Jedi who will be coming into their own that I can’t wait to hear more about in the future.

We also have characters like our main couple of Lula and Zeen who are leaving the Order to do their own thing.

There’s so many directions, and I can’t wait to see what’s next

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 20

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Elisa Romboli

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 19 | Comic Review

There’s still one book remaining, but the main story of Phase III has come to an end with Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 19. What a journey.

The Battle of Eriadu comes to an end.

Having read Star Wars: The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi, I was interested in seeing how certain story beats would play out in THRA. I think Daniel Jose Older paired the events well with what we saw in the novel.

I’ve talked about how the Battle of Eriadu hasn’t been my favorite, and I still don’t love it. However, parts of the story were terrific, and I’ll remember them and specific panels for a while.

I don’t think THRA Phase III is as strong as Phase I, but now that the whole picture is available, I think I enjoy it more.

I’m pleased DJO gave all of the Starhopper kids time to shine in Please III.

I’m sure this won’t be the last time that we see THRA characters; however, I’m glad that DJO showed all of them being heroes in the battle.

Since the first book in Phase I, these kids have been on a fantastic journey. Seeing all of them get huge, splash page hero shots has been a joy.

Oof, the kids reaction to finding out (spoiler) didn’t make it off of Sophros/Planet X.

Don’t read further if you don’t want a spoiler for Trials of the Jedi.

I have no idea how the kids are going to react to finding out Buckets of Blood died. RIP Torben Buck.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 19

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Elisa Romboli

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 18 | Comic Review

The Battle of Eriadu comes to an end in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 18. It turned out to be a pivotal fight in the publishing initative, one in which the Jedi and the Republic finally came out on top.

I wish I liked the Battle of Eriadu more.

Once The High Republic Adventures turned to the Battle of Eriadu, the amount that I liked this story started to decline. I wish I liked it more, I really do. There’s just something about it that didn’t work for me overall, despite loving certain moments.

Some of the artwork in this book was phenomenal.

Harvey Tolibao and Michael Atiyeh combined for some absolute fantastic artwork in this book. The full page spreads were so vibrant and awesome. Loved it.

I need full recaps of all my favorites.

So far, all of the Jedi padawan that we met way back in Phase I aboard the Star Hopper are still alive and well.

Thank goodness.

I’m going to need a full update on what has happened to all of them. Every single one.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 18

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Elisa Romboli

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 17 | Comic Review

I’m so glad that Farzala Tarabel appears to be the main focus of the final run-in for Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 17.

What is Farzala struggling with?

Farzala learned a very important lesson in this book.

He learned that his attachment isn’t to his friends like I expected. We get the twist, however, in that Farzala’s attachment is to certainty.

“If I’m certain that the worst thing will happen and I take actions based on that, I believe I can evade it and save my friends. But the truth is, there is no certainty. To act this way it’s not to evade fear — it’s to be ruled by it!”

Farzala learns that he can’t control a future that isn’t written yet. And by trying to control the future that he is afraid of, he’s allowing fear to dominate his future. 

As Master Yoda would say, “Always in motion the future is.”

MASTER OBRATUK!

It was very nice seeing Farzala’s former Jedi Master even if it was only a Force vision. He was a unique character design that I really liked.

Farzala hero shot!

The full page shot of a confident Farzala to end the book was exactly what I needed. I love that dude.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 17

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 16 | Comic Review

We head back to Eriadu with the request of Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 16.

The Nihil assault in Eriadu continues, but the Jedi and their pirate friends do their best to help defend the citizens of the Tarkin home world.

I was pretty upfront that the arc leading into this final battle wasn’t my favorite of THRA, all I’m glad that these last few books have turned things around for me.

You can pick up the comic here.

The Nihil Stormwall is DOWN!

The Nihil Stormwall has been an all-encompassing presence in Phase III, and it would appear, with the Republic showing up at the end, that it has finally been destroyed/deactivated.

I’m not sure about everyone’s feelings on the Stormwall, but I’ve enjoyed it as a storytelling device to force the Jedi and Republic into dangerous situations and give the Nihil some “home territory”. Sure, the stuff with the path engines and “no space” has pretty much died, but there had to be a trade-off.

I’m interested to see in the upcoming novels the moment that the Stormwall comes down and how it pairs time-wise with this book.

That’s Keeve Trennis and company on that ship, right?

Based on the previews for this final wave of Phase III across all media, I’m pretty sure that Keeve Trennis and Sskeer (among others) are on that Republic cruiser that showed up at the end.

As I keep saying in my reviews of the Marvel High Republic book, what here breaks Keeve and causes her to leave the Order?

I like the focus on other characters, but I really miss Lula and Zeen.

I love Farzala Tarabel. He’s an awesome character. I love Qort, too. They’re two awesome fellas. However, the little cameo at the end of the book made me realize how much I miss Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala.

I’m assuming, at least based on the cover for next week’s book, that they will slowly be coming back into the forefront in the final four issues, so I won’t complain. I just miss them.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 16

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Tony Bruno

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 15 | Comic Review

I’ve been loving The High Republic Adventures line from Dark Horse from day one, so it’s no surprise that Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 15 was a home run for me.

The Battle of Eriadu kicked off in # 14, and it’s in full swing here. We’ve seen Qort get shot (though, he’s alive for now!), and we know there’s now a traitor in the Jedi/Republic side. But, they’re only a traitor, because the Warden kidnapped a family member.

You can pick up the comic here.

I’m really digging what’s going on with Farzala.

Farzala is the one of the original kids that were part of The High Republic Adventures that hasn’t really had any of the main focus so far in the series. I’m so glad that he’s getting his time to shine now, because he’s such a cool character.

These visions that he’s having are spooky. At this point, I really have no idea what these visions are signaling. I’m excited.

I didn’t love the art in this one.

Normally, I don’t have any complaints about the artwork in The High Republic Adventures, but something about this book just didn’t work for me.

This book incorporated so many people.

One of my favorite things about this book was how many different characters got to feature. It was really fun to see so many different people that were seen throughout the first two phases show up to help Eriadu.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 15

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Tony Bruno

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 14 | Comic Review

We’re in the end game now. Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 14 kicks off the race to the finish of The High Republic Adventures, and I’m excited!

I’ll be the first one to admit that I thought several of the comics leading up to the Battle of Eriadu dragged. I struggled with several of them and just wasn’t enjoying myself as much as I normally do with The High Republic Adventures.

However, now that we’re finally here, there is a feeling of almost relief. Issue 14 kicks off the big fight between the Nihil and everybody else. It also finally gave us some backstory on the evil Warden who has been a thorn in everybody’s side.

Interestingly enough, it looks like our two books from Dark Horse and Marvel are going to be telling a lot of the same event for the climax? That’s exciting!

You can pick up the comic here.

There were some amazing full-page spreads in this book.

Harvey Tolibau and Michael Atiyeh combined for some awesome pages in this book. There are too many to count, but I really loved the two-page spread of the Jedi/Republic characters and the Nihil characters in battle. That is such an awesome image.

Finally, the Battle of Eriadu has begun.

It’s interesting that the Tarkin home world of Eriadu is the stage for one of the biggest battles of The High Republic publishing initiative.

As I said earlier, I didn’t love the build up on The High Republic Adventures side of things. I haven’t not liked it though, if you get what I mean. I’m excited to see how the Marvel comics from Cavan Scott will tie into THRA from Daniel Jose Older.

Oh MY god, I thought we lost Qort.

The moment that Qort was shot, I nearly lost it. The High Republic has been full of characters being killed (sometimes brutally), so it wasn’t unusual. However, The High Republic Adventures has spared us from any of our main characters losing their lives.

So, when Qort was shot, I thought that this was the moment we were finally losing somebody. Thankfully, he’s mostly okay. At least, it seems that way.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures Phase III # 14

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibau

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Harvey Tolibao, Kevin Tolibao

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Wedding Spectacular | Comic Review

For the longest time, I wondered if we were going to see the wedding of Zeen Mrala and Lula Talisola, and they delivered on that promise in Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Wedding Spectacular.

We’ve been building toward this wedding for several years now. I didn’t quite know if we were going to see it after Lula woke with amnesia at the beginning of Phase III, but credit to Daniel Jose Older for bringing it around organically.

The majority of the characters that we met in The High Republic Adventures showed up for the wedding, and the Tarkins agreed to enter the fight against the Nihil.

You can pick up the comic here.

For Light and Life Wife!

The relationship between Zeen and Lula has been one of the highlights of the entire High Republic Era. While we still have several books left of The High Republic Adventures, It’s hard for me to imagine that these two characters won’t get their happy ending after all.

The Tarkins have finally chosen a side.

The Tarkins joining the side of the Republic/Jedi against the Nihil will very likely be the tipping point that they need to defeat the Warden and his army.

I’ve always loved the bits of the High Republic that tie back to the Skywalker Saga characters that we know and love or love to hate.

Only the Battle of Eriadu remains for the main line of High Republic Adventures.

I am really excited to see what’s going to happen in the Battle of Eriadu. The buildup has been so well done, and all of our characters have been slowly moving into place through the various series in The High Republic Adventures.

It is going to be epic.

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: The Wedding Spectacular

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Daniel Jose Older

Artists: Harvey Tolibao, Caio Filipe, Andy Duggan, Jo Mi-Gyeong, Toni Bruno, Megan Huang, Nick Brokenshire, Elisa Romboli

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh, Vladimir Popov, Dan Jackson, Nicola Righi

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Cherriielle, Priscilla Bampoh, Akinobu Hara

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone #2 | Comic Review

In Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone # 2, we head right back into the search for who discovered the Republic EX droids.

In Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone # 1, we learned that at least two of the Republic EX droids bypassed the Nihil Stormwall and landed on Eriadu. In this issue, we discovered that former Jedi Ruu and Driggit Parse both track down the droid at the same time.

When we first met Driggit, she was on Valo choosing to abandon her Jedi friends in favor of the Nihil. Now, it seems as though she’s realizing the folly of her ways even if she didn’t trust the Republic to help long-term

You can pick up the comic here.

Driggit’s arc is finally coming to where I thought it would.

I have to admit that I was a little shocked that Driggit willingly joined the Nihil in Escape from Valo, abandoning her Jedi friends that she had made. Now that her redemption arc is starting, her story is coming to where I thought it would.

She was an interesting character from the beginning since we didn’t normally see Jedi with many non-Jedi friends. Then, when she essentially turned on Gavi, Kildo, and Tep Tep to join the Nihil (even if she thought she was protecting her planet and people), she didn’t seem to show a lot of remorse for the betrayal.

Now, even though she admits that she expects the Republic (and the Jedi) to eventually abandon the area in favor of the Core Works through Middle Rim, she’s turning to them for help with all the information that she had. Is it too late? Will she be able to survive among the Nihil ranks until then?

I still really love this concept.

This is such a smart feature for a comic miniseries. The concept allows for a few authors of The High Republic to add to the main story of how the characters that we’ve been following get to the final wave of Phase III without cluttering up the main story.

We need more Ruu.

Ruu is such an interesting character, and I hope we get a lot more one day. He has left the Jedi Order but is determined to help them in this war with the Nihil/Nameless, because the Jedi still mean and do good.

What does the future hold for this Force sensitive non-Jedi?

Comic: Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures: Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone # 2

Publisher: Dark Horse

Writer: Alyssa Wong

Artists: Valeria Favoccia

Colorist: Michael Atiyeh

Letterer: Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, Jimmy Betancourt

Cover Artist: Jake Bartok